On Jan.12, Nebraska state Sen. Terrell McKinney introduced Legislative Bill 960, which would require school boards across the state to include nonvoting student members.
Under the bill, Nebraska school boards would be required to include an equal number of student members as elected adult members. Student representatives would be in grades 10-12 and attend high schools within the district they serve.
Student board members would be required to attend public school board meetings, sit with board members during meetings, receive materials and agendas, and be permitted to introduce and advocate for agenda items. However, students would not be allowed to attend closed or executive sessions of the school board, or access confidential information. If the bill is passed, it would take effect during the 2027-2028 school year.
Westside already has a similar program in place to provide student voice to the Westside Community Schools Board of Education. The program is called Student Board Connection (SBC), and it is led by Westside Board of Education member, Dr. Meagan Van Gelder.
“The Board of Education benefits from the SBC framework because we learn about the concerns and questions from our students. At the same time, our students learn about how a school board functions and how policy is made–a win/win.” Van Gelder said.
Dr. Van Gelder emphasized that student voice is highly valued by the Westside board.
“It is important for students to have a voice [in the Board of Education], because students are who the Board directly serves. Every decision we make we ask ourselves, ‘How will this impact our students?’ We get to hear first-hand our students’ experiences and perspectives so that we can make better decisions as a board.” Van Gelder said.
While Westside’s SBC provides an important avenue for student input in the district, if LB 960 passes into law, the structure would become more formal. McKinney believes this aspect is essential.
McKinney indicated that his reason for championing this cause is his belief in the importance of student voice. Specifically, he believes it is critical to make sure students across Nebraska are involved in a meaningful way that has a clear structure.
“I introduced LB 960 because students are affected by school board decisions every single day, yet they rarely have a formal voice in those conversations…The intent is simple: if decisions are being made about students, students deserve a seat at the table.” McKinney explained.
Not only is student voice important because they are impacted by school board decisions, but their voices provide an essential perspective the board members cannot fully replicate.
“It’s important for students to have a voice on school boards because they bring a perspective that adults can’t fully replicate,” McKinney said. “Students understand firsthand what’s happening in classrooms, how policies affect school climate, and what support they and their peers actually need. Including student voices leads to better discussions, better decisions, and stronger trust between school leaders and the students they serve. It also helps students build leadership and civic skills that will stay with them long after graduation.”
The bill has been assigned to the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee and will have a hearing for public testimony. After the hearing, the Committee will vote whether to advance LB 960 for consideration by the full legislative body. To become law, LB 960 must pass three rounds of voting by senators.
